Hope Town Lighthouse Hope Town, Bahamas (part of Out Islands Guide)

Featured on many postcards, this picturesque lighthouse warrants a visit. The 120-foot, peppermint-striped tower has been guiding ships around the dangerous rocks and coral reefs since 1838. Builders of the lighthouse had to contend with vandalism by residents who did not want their profitable shipwreck industry ruined. Today, the lighthouse operates as one of the last three hand-operated, kerosene-fueled beacons in the Bahamas. Visiting the lighthouse by water taxi from the Hope Town docks is the best way to get there. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.